Original leaf from a manuscript Book of Hours. 16 lines of text, ruled in red, written in Latin on animal vellum. (165 x 128mm – 6 ½ x 5’’) One six-line historiated illuminated initial with an internal painting of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The text, verso, is surrounded on three sides (one side recto) by a dense floral border (including grapes - symbol of the blood of Christ and columbine - symbol of the Holy Spirit) with in rich colors and liquid gold.
France (probably Paris), c. 1450-1475.
The historiated initial depicts the Blessed Virgin Mary with hands clasped in prayer and surrounded by a golden mandorla.
The two-line illuminated “G” (recto) begins the prayer: “Gratiam tuam…” (Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His passion and cross be brought to the glory of His resurrection, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen).
The historiated initial “O” begins the popular prayer of the Middle Ages - Obsecro Te (I beseech thee, Lady Holy Mary, Mother of God, most full of piety, daughter of the Most High King, Mother most glorious, Mother of orphans, consolation of the desolate, way of the straying, health and hope of those hoping in thee, virgin before giving birth, virgin during birth, and virgin after giving birth. I beseech thee font of mercy, font of grace and well-being, font of piety and joy, font of consolation and indulgence…).
Conditin note: Bright fresh colors and text. Some rippling to vellum in upper left, and some smudging in the initial from devotional use.
Shipped unmatted
